Summary Statement

Employees more
readily and properly wear a comfortable harness that easily adapts to
lanyards and other connecting devices.

What makes one worker
wear the proper fall protection equipment and use it in the correct manner,
while another doesn't? On one hand, workers must receive the proper training
on adjusting, inspecting, and maintaining the equipment. On the other
hand, no matter how thorough the training, workers might leave the equipment

"Our workers like a comfortable harness," said Jim Owen, director
of construction safety operations at Dick Corporation. "They'll wear
a harness if it's comfortable." Owen and other safety directors agree
that a harness--or any fall protection equipment that's difficult to don
and hard to adjust--won't be used.

Before purchasing
any fall protection equipment, buyers should note that harnesses are not
all the same. Everything from harness construction to strap placement
can be compared and contrasted. All of these elements do make a
difference in the comfort and safety the harness offers the user. Harness
buyers and users should also remember that harnesses don't last forever.

Some
harnesses have a minimum adjustment on the chest strap that cannot
be used by shorter workers.

Harnessing Size

Many manufacturers
rely on universal sizing, which means a harness should fit the average
person. However, universal sizing is designed to fit most, not all, workers.
Some harnesses have a minimum adjustment on the chest strap that cannot
be used by shorter workers. "I like the harnesses that offer adjustments
for height," said Western Summit Constructors Inc. Safety Director
Neal Timmons.

The ability to adjust
a harness correctly is important, but some manufacturers' adjustable straps
are often too complicated, said Harry Galer, director of corporate safety
for Clark Construction Group Inc. "Employees often have trouble adjusting
the leg straps, or they have the D-ring in the back adjusted improperly,"
he said. In many instances, workers wear harnesses far too loose in order
to find a comfortable fit. "These are things our safety managers
have to watch constantly," Galer said.

Clark Construction
uses several different types of harnesses, but their workers prefer full-body
harnesses with stretchable webbing that allows workers to flex and bend.
"With some harnesses, they complain about them not fitting properly--they
cut and pinch," Galer said. "When adjustments are difficult
to make, we find a lot of workers don't wear their harnesses properly."

How Safe is that
Safety Harness?

Most buyers would
expect a harness to meet specific standards, but surprisingly, some brands
don't meet basic safety standards. Before purchasing fall protection products,
ask these questions, and ask for written proof from the manufacturers:

Where are
the products manufactured? Does the facility have ISO 9001 certification?

Check
whether the manufacturer is a member of the Safety Equipment Institute,
which provides independent testing programs for all fall protection
products.

Harness construction
is anything but standard. Some harnesses are manufactured without a back
strap. In the event of a fall, the person may actually fall out of the
back of the harness. Chest straps should be easy to adjust and must withstand
a fall without tearing or breaking. In test cases with inferior quality
harnesses, some chest straps broke from fall forces.

The stronger the
straps and stitching, the better the fall protection. Some manufacturers
use Velcro for chest straps, but others refuse. "For Miller brand
products, we find Velcro is not a suitable substitute for chest hardware
because it doesn't hold well enough. When Velcro gets dirty, its holding
power is affected," said Ron Cox, Vice President and General Manager
of Dalloz Fall Protection-Americas.

A harness should
have hardware that's sturdy, but not oversized and awkward. At the same
time, the hardware should easily attach to connecting devices. For example,
the D-rings on some harnesses are so small that hooking a lanyard can
be a tricky process.

Harness hardware
also poses a hazard if it has sharp edges. The edges can cut into harness
webbing or can be positioned in such a way that they dig into the skin
in the event of a fall. To protect workers from hardware injuries, the
components must be appropriately manufactured and assembled.

Hardware with exposed
springs should be avoided. Exposed springs, especially on friction buckles,
can be easily disabled or removed. Reliable hardware construction is an
important feature because friction buckles that are not spring-loaded
can easily begin to loosen once the harness has been adjusted to fit.

Avoiding Tangled
Webs

Webbing may seem
like an innocuous item that would be similar in all cases, but it varies
drastically from brand to brand. Some harnesses use webbing that folds
over and tangles, and that can be as frustrating as handling a disagreeable
telephone cord.

Harness webbing should
be sturdy, and the yarns should be tightly woven so the webbing slides
easily through the hardware. If webbing snags when it glides under hardware,
it can result in cuts to the webbing. Once cut, the harness must be taken
out of service.

Examining the tensile
strength of webbing is also important. After abrasion tests, some webbing
begins to fray and pucker bringing the harness to the end of service.
Stitching is just as important as the structure of the webbing. The stitching
must not rip away during a fall.

Harness webbing should
resist the effects of sun, heat, and moisture for an extended period of
time. If a harness is used in an electrical environment, it must also
resist conductivity. If it is used in a harsh chemical environment, the
webbing must be able to resist toxic chemical fumes and splashes.

Inspecting for
Wear

Webbing
may seem innocuous but varies drastically from brand to brand.

In order to ensure
a harness will perform the ultimate function it is intended for--saving
a life--it must be inspected prior to every use. Remember that all harnesses
have a limited life. However, the length of wearable life will vary greatly,
depending on the amount of wear it receives and in what type of environment
it is worn. For example, a harness worn only indoors, or only a couple
of times in a week, will have a much longer life than one worn outdoors
every day. A harness worn outdoors endures a variety of environmental
forces and may even show visible signs of damage or corrosion in a matter
of months. When inspecting your harness, a good rule of thumb is: Any
doubts, toss it.

Padding is meant
to make the harness more comfortable, but if it's difficult to adjust
or is made of material that becomes brittle in cold weather, it can become
another problem that discourages proper use of the harness.

How Does It Work?

It sounds too simple
to address, but clear, easy-to-read instructions should accompany every
harness. In the best case scenario, the instructions will be in more than
one language. All of the instructions should include explicit guidelines
for usage, maintenance, and inspection.

It Adds Up to
Safety

When purchasing a
harness, make sure you are buying the correct harness for the appropriate
application. Remember, employees will more readily and properly wear a
comfortable harness that easily adapts to lanyards and other connecting
devices. The better the harness, the better your company's chances of
employees wearing them. That increases safety and regulatory compliance.
Most important, it saves lives.

1. Hold the harness
by the back D-ring. Shake the harness to allow all straps to fall in place.
2. If chest, leg, and/or waist straps are buckled, release the straps
and unbuckle at this time.
3. Slip the straps over shoulders so the D-ring is located in middle of
the back between shoulder blades.
4. Pull the leg strap between legs and connect to the opposite end. Repeat
with the second leg strap. If belted harness, connect the waist strap
after the leg straps. The waist strap should be tight, but not binding.
5 .Connect the chest strap and position in the mid-chest area. Tighten
to keep the shoulder straps taut.
6. After all straps have been buckled, tighten all buckles so the harness
fits snugly but allows full range of movement. Pass excess strap through
loop keepers.

Mating Buckle

1. Pull the center
bar buckle completely through the square link.
2. Allow the center bar buckle to fall into place on top of the square
link.
3. Pull the loose end of the strap to tighten adjustment of the harness.
4. Slide keepers to hold any excess webbing.

Tongue Buckle

1. Insert the loose
strap of webbing through the tongue buckle, placing the buckle tongue
through the appropriate grommet.
2. Push remaining webbing through the keeper to retain the loose end.

FrictionBuckle

1. Pass webbing under
the buckle, over knurled bar, and back down between knurled bar and frame.
2. Pull web end to tighten.

Inspection and
Maintenance

To maintain service
life and high performance, you should inspect harnesses frequently. Visual
inspection before each use is required. Regular inspection by a competent
person for wear, damage, or corrosion should be a part of your safety
program. Inspect your equipment daily and replace it if any defective
conditions exist.

1. Webbing
Grasp the webbing with your hands 6 to 8 inches apart. Bend the webbing
in an inverted "U" as shown. The resulting surface tension makes
damaged fibers or cuts easier to see. Follow this procedure the entire
length of the webbing, inspecting both sides of each strap. Watch for
frayed edges, broken fibers, pulled stitches, cuts, burns, and chemical
damage.

2. D-Rings/Back Pads
Check D-rings for distortion, cracks, breaks, and rough or sharp edges.
The D-ring should pivot freely. D-ring back pads should also be inspected
for damage.

3. Attaching Buckles
Attachments of buckles and D-rings should be given special attention.
Note any unusual wear, frayed or cut fibers, or distortion of the buckles
or D-rings.

4. The Tongue/Grommets
The tongue receives heavy wear from repeated buckling and unbuckling.
Inspect for loose, distorted, or broken grommets. Webbing should not have
additional punched holes.

5. Tongue Buckle
Buckle tongues should be free of distortion in shape and motion. They
should overlap the buckle frame and move freely back and forth in their
socket. Roller should turn freely on frame. Check for distortion or sharp
edges.

6. Friction and Mating
Buckles
Inspect the buckle for distortion. The outer bars and center bars must
be straight. Pay special attention to corners and attachment points of
the center bar.

7. Visual Indications
of Damage to Webbing and Rope
a) Heat. In excessive heat, becomes brittle and has a shriveled brownish
appearance. The fibers will break when flexed. Should not be used above
180 degrees Fahrenheit.
b) Chemical. Change in color usually appearing as a brownish smear or
smudge. Transverse cracks when bent over a mandrel. Loss of elasticity.
c) Molten metal or flame. Webbing strands fuse together. Hard shiny spots.
Hard and brittle feel.
d) Paint and solvents. Paint that penetrates and dries restricts movement
of the fibers. Drying agents and solvents in some paints cause chemical
damage.

Irene Smith works
in the product management department for Miller brand fall protection
products, training, and engineering systems manufactured by Dalloz Fall
Protection of Franklin, Pa. The company (www.cdalloz.com)has
been a world leader in the design and manufacture of fall protection equipment
for more than 50 years.